Modulating body/cranial hair growth

Abstract

The growth of body and/or head/cranial hair on mammalian organisms, for example humans, is modulated by administering thereto, whether topically and/or systemically, therapeutically effective amounts of at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase stimulator, preferably in the presence of at least one lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase substrate or precursor thereof; when a hair-growth or hair loss-limiting response is sought to be elicited, a lipoxygenase inhibitor and/or cyclooxygenase stimulator is administered (conversely, to reduce or prevent hair growth, a lipoxygenase stimulator and/or cyclooxygenase inhibitor is administered).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of promoting hair growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a lipoxygenase inhibitor for a time and under conditions effective to promote hair growth, wherein said lipoxygenase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of linoleic acid, nafazatrom, borage oil (isolated from  Borago officinalis ), Ginkgo biloba (isolated from the  Ginkgo biloba  tree), ketoconozole (cis-1-Acetyl-4-[4-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]piperazine), diallyl sulfide, masoprocol (beta,gamma-Dimethyl-alpha,delta-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) butane, isolated from  Larrea tridentata ), benzofuranol, boswellic acid ((3α,4β)-3-hydroxyurs-12-en-23-oic acid, isolated from  Boswellia carterii ), flavenol, dihydroquercetin, luteolin (2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, eicosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, galangin ((3,5,7-Trihydroxyflavone)) and docosahexaenoic acid.